Vietnam’s practical activities in response to Earth Day
Nearly 2,000 volunteers collected waste at public places in Ho Chi Minh City on April 22 in response to Earth Day 2018 which has the theme of “End Plastic Pollution.”
Volunteers collected waste at public places in HCM City on April 22 in response to Earth Day 2018. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Nearly 2,000 volunteers collectedwaste at public places in Ho Chi Minh City on April 22 in response to Earth Day2018 which has the theme of “End Plastic Pollution.”
The campaign was jointly launched by the organisation“Vietnam Clean and Green” and HCM City’s Youth Federation.
A survey conducted by the HCM City Department ofNatural Resources and Environment found that the volume of plastic trash in thecity is just behind food waste, with an estimated 250,000 tonnes of plasticwaste discarded each year.
According to HCM City’s waste recycling fund, if 48,000 tonnes of plasticwaste, which are buried in the southern metropolis each year, are recycled, thecity can save about 15 billion VND (660,000) annually.
The same day, more than 500 representatives frombusinesses, organisations, clubs and volunteer groups and locals in the centralcity of Da Nang also joined hands to clean up beaches, classify rubbish andorganise a range of activities aiming to raise public awareness of plasticpollution as well as environmental protection.
Earth Day 2018 was also observed in other localitiesacross the country, including the capital city of Hanoi, the central provinceof Thua Thien-Hue and the island district of Phu Quoc in the Mekong Deltaprovince of Kien Giang, drawing the participation of more than 4,000volunteers.
According to earthday.org, 8.3 billion metric tonnesof plastic has been produced since plastic was introduced in the 1950s. Theamount of plastic produced in a year is roughly the same as the entire weightof humanity. 91 percent of plastic waste isn’t recycled. And since most plasticsdon’t biodegrade in any meaningful sense, all that plastic waste could existfor hundreds or even thousands of years.
Of note, 8 million metric tonnes of plastic winds upin the oceans each year. That’s enough trash to cover every foot ofcoastline around the world with five full trash bags of plastic compounding every year.
A recent international survey revealed that Vietnamis one of the five countries in the world discharging the most plastic waste,with about 1.8 million tonnes dumped each year.-VNA
US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mary Tarnowka has called for actions to improve public awareness of plastic waste as well as measures to reduce and recycle plastic waste.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
Volunteers collected waste at public places in HCM City on April 22 in response to Earth Day 2018. (Source: VNA)
